Clean energy firm wins contract to support delivery of Holyhead Hydrogen Hub

A clean energy solutions provider has won a public tender contract to support the delivery of a hydrogen production plant in Holyhead.

The Holyhead Hydrogen Hub will be the first of its kind and is supported by Anglesey Council and the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund.

The hub aims to create 20-30 initial jobs and support over 500 local businesses while bolstering low carbon infrastructure capabilities.

Chosen for its expertise in delivering integrated hydrogen technologies, Scotland-based Logan Energy will be working with social enterprise Menter Môn, as well as a consortium of local businesses and specialists, to undertake the pre-works and development of the facility.

Those involved include Olwg Ltd., Cadnant Planning, Stronachs LLP, and local Environmental Consultant, Patrick Bigham.

As an industry which contributes to around a quarter of global CO2 emissions, the energy-intensive haulage and heavy transport sector is said to be in urgent need of efficient low carbon energy solutions if net zero targets are to be met by 2050.

The current fuel demands of HGVs in Holyhead are large and an initial study has identified a supply rate of over 400kg/day can kick-start the hub, which could be in operation by 2023.

Home to the second largest roll-on, roll-off port in the UK, the town was identified as an ideal site for the hub, with a large number of lorries passing through annually.

Providing an ideal launchpad for green hydrogen production, it’s hoped the site will help release the full potential of the region’s renewable energy resources.

It could also provide for trains, public transport, and shipping, as well as other hydrogen markets such as heat, industry, power, and agriculture.

The project will be the first to be developed in Wales under a hub and spoke model, working with schemes in other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

CEO of Logan Energy, Bill Ireland, said: “There are huge renewable resources offshore – both tidal and wind – which together present a compelling case to develop a hydrogen supply-chain on Anglesey through this project.

“Kick-starting a local, sustainable hydrogen supply-chain under the control and majority ownership of a local entity is key to enabling local benefit and longer-term success, ensuring Holyhead and surrounding areas can pave the way for wide-scale low-carbon infrastructure in the region while developing a local workforce skilled in hydrogen technology.

“Such an ownership model will support the Welsh Government’s aim of increasing benefit from new energy generation and reaching its net zero targets by 2050.”

Dafydd Gruffydd, managing director of Menter Mȏn, said: “Wales is determined in its efforts to combat the effects of climate change and start building a sustainable future. For this, a robust low-carbon economy is crucial.

“Holyhead Hydrogen Hub represents a huge step forward in our plans to decarbonise the transport industry while supporting local jobs and business and by working collaboratively across north Wales.

“The key advantage of this project is its scalability. While the plant aims to provide an initial fuel supply of 400kg per day, there is impressive potential to expand the hub to support additional heavy transport demands as well as the country’s public transport network services and emerging markets in heat and industry.”

The project has already attracted a positive response from local employers such as Stena Line and major haulage companies such as Delivery Solutions and Gwynedd Shipping.

The hub is said to have the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 1,700 tonnes per year.